Ethiopia: Oromo militias and paramilitaries are the new oppressing force

Ethiopia: Oromo militias and paramilitaries are the new oppressing force

Sunatimes.com - Bloggers try to get the news out in a media blackout
In early August, CAGE was notified by a blogger, Mohamed Abdulkaadir, that atrocities were taking place between ethnic groups in this historically contested area. He insisted it wa

Sunatimes.com - Bloggers try to get the news out in a media blackout
In early August, CAGE was notified by a blogger, Mohamed Abdulkaadir, that atrocities were taking place between ethnic groups in this historically contested area. He insisted it was being allowed to take place due to the shroud of the 'War on Terror'.

He told us how Somali Muslims were facing a "well co-ordinated programme of ethnic cleansing” by Oromo militias, tacitly sanctioned and at times openly backed by the Ethiopian military.

The cities of Dir Dawa and Miesso in Shiniile province, as well as the towns of Tuliguleed, Baabili, Jinacsani in Fafaan province, as well as the city of Moyale in Lebaan province were some of the localities where atrocities took place.

Abdulkaadir described destroyed homes, indiscriminate killings, a mother and her children burned alive, seven farmer shot dead in one frenzy – and swathes of people fleeing into makeshift refugee camps, where they are now "languishing in the hundreds and thousands” in makeshift IDF camps, being forced to drink contaminated water.

There had been pictures and accounts on social media, but nothing of the disaster on mainstream news, no statements from the aid agencies.

"Ethiopia is a key ally of the US in the ‘War on Terror’ in the horn of Africa region,” he said. "As a result, the US government and its allies have always turned a blind eye to Ethiopia’s war crimes against Somalis.”